Ladder.



J. COPLINKY.

LADDER. l APPLIOATIGN'FILED HAB.. 20, 1909.-

Patented oet. 5,1909.

JOSEPH COLINKY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LADDER,

Patented Oct. 5, tm.,

Application filed March 20, 1909. Serial No. 484,614'.

To all whom it may concern.:

ABe it known that l, Josnrn (loPLiNiiY, a citizen of the United States,residing at llarrislmrg, in the county of Dauphin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Ladders, ofwhich the following is a-specieation.

This invention relates to ladders and particularly to an attaclnncnt forladders to prevent the saine from slipping and falling when arranged andsupported for use.

The main object of the invention is to provide simple and effectivemeans adapted to engage the ground or surface on which the base of theladder rests to hold the latter firmly from movement, which means may befolded t'o an inoperative position when the ladder is used interiorly toprevent-marring of the floor, or to permit the ladder to be stored inclose compass when not in use.

A further objectof the invention is to provideholding means of thedescribed character which may be applied to ladders already in use.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frontView of the attachment showing the projected and folded positions of theparts in full and dotted lines. Fig. 2 a side view of a ladder showingthe application of the invent-ion thereto. Fig. 3 is a. rear elevationof the same.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates the side bars of aladder to which my invention is shown applied, an anti-slip# ping orholding device being applied to the lower end of each of said bars. Eachholding device comprises an attaching bar or plate Q provided with aseries of'openings 3 for the passage of screws or other suitablefastening' devices t to secure the same vertically upon the inner orrear face of each bar, or that face which lies adjacent the wall orother structure from which the ladder is supported in use. The lower endof the bar or plate 2, which constitutes a fastening bracket, terminatesabove the lower end of the bar l and is provided with central, lateralpivot supports 5 for a pair of bracing arms 6, which latter are adaptedto be swung below or above their pivots, asA shown in full and dottedlines in Fig. l, and are formed with inwardly curved lower ends 7terminating in spurred or pointed extremities S to enter the ground orsurface on which the ladder rests to hold the same against lateral orsidewise movement. The arms G are formed with beveled or inclined lugsor shoulders 9 which are adapted to be engaged by the lower beveled orVfshaped ends of a pair oflocking arms, dogs or detents l0, pivoted attheir upper ends to the sides of the bracket i). above the bracing armsas shown at ll, the construction being such.

that when the arms (5 are projected the arms l0 may be swung downwardinto locking engagement therewith to hold the said arms 6 from outwardand upward movement, thus insuring the firm embedment of the pointedends S in the ground and the secure retention of the ladder againstsidewise movement.

In order to hold the ladder against outward movement from the wall orother support against which it rests, a retaining or anchoring arm l2 isprovided and pivotally connected at one end, as shown at 13, to theouter or rear face of the bracket 2 near the lower end of the latter. rl`his arm is adapted when the ladder is arranged for use, as shown inFig. 2, to be swung downward to the position illustrated in full linesto bring its opposite or free end, which is provided with a spur or hookle, into engagement with tn e ground between the ladder and wall orlother supportiiig element, so that said spur or hook may be forced intothe ground to prevent the lower end of the ladder from slippingoutwardly with relation to said wall or element. Hence by the use of thebracing and anchoring arms, the ladder may be firmly and securely heldfrom slipping or shifting in any direction, so that it can not possiblyfall.

The holding devices are more especially adapted for use when the ladderis canployed for exterior work, but they may also be used when theladder is used for interior work where the base surface on'which theladder rests is of a nature to permit the bracing and anchoring:r armsto obtain an anchoring engagement. lvl/*hen the ladder is rested on afloor' or other surface, the arms may be swung upwardly to the dottedline positions shown in order to prevent marring of the -tioor andadjacent woodwork. rEhe folded positions of the arms will lso permit theladder to be packed or stored in close compass without interferencetherefrom. lt will Cri 'being pivotally mounted upon an att-aching bracet, it will be understood that they may be mounted directly upon thebars l in equipping a new ladder with the invention. The constructiondisclosed, however', permits of the application of the invention toladders already in usei'or the purpose of preventing the same ilromslipping, and it will be appar- 'ent that the invention is exceedinglyeffective yfor this purpose and is susceptible of manufacture aud saleat a comparatively low cost.

Having thus 'fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, is vl. The combination with a ladder, of bracing arms pivoted to the bars ofthe ladder to swing laterally therefrom, said arms being provided withpointed engaging ends and beveled locking shoulders, and'pivoted locking arms on said bars having beveled locking ends to engage saidshoulders and hold said arms in outt'olded position.

2. The combination with a ladder, of bracing arms pivoted to the ladderto swing outwardly therefrom and. having curved free 'ends provided withpointed terminals and beveled locking shoulders above the same, andlocking arms pivoted to the ladder above said bracing arms and providedwith beveled endsto engage said shoulders to lock said bracingl arms inoutt'olded position. I

3. The combination with a ladder, of

bracket plates secured to the bars of the ladbars of the ladder andhaving pointed outer ends and locking shoulders above the same,

pivoted locking arms adapted to engage said shoulders to lock thebracing arms in outfolded position, and a hooked anchoring arm pivotedto the ladder at right angles to said bracing arms and at a point belowthe pivotal connections thereof.

. In testimony whereotl I aIi-X my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

y JOSEPH COPLINKY. Witnesses:

J. WV. GARNER',

JOHN L. FLETCHER.

